WINSTON-SALEM – If last week’s 62-0 manhandling of Elon in Larry Fedora’s North Carolina debut turned a few heads, then Saturday’s followup performance against Wake Forest certainly opened some eyes.

But not in the way excited Tar Heel football fans had hoped.

Instead of putting on another clinic with near-perfect execution of Fedora’s up-tempo spread offense and hybrid 4-2-5 defense, UNC provided a stark reminder that its newly reorganized program is still very much a work in progress with a 28-27 loss at BB&T Field.

Playing for the first time on the road against an ACC opponent, the Tar Heels committed silly penalties, turned the ball over in the red zone, kicked field goals instead of scoring touchdowns and were burned for 362 passing yards by a Deacons team that struggled to beat its opening week FCS opponent. And yet, even with all that, they were still in a position to win until the final six minutes.

That’s when junior Tanner Price delivered a reality check by leading a methodical 93-yard drive that sent Wake to its 12th straight home win against an in-state opponent and UNC scurrying back to the drawing board.

“There were a lot of people out there ready to crown us champs after beating Elon 62-0,” a stoic Fedora said after the game, which was delayed by 67 minutes at the start by a severe thunderstorm that blew through the stadium. “But I said it then. We’ve got a long way to go … a long way to go.

“We’ll be a better football team because of it. This is the first form of adversity we’ve had in 2012. We get to find out who the Tar Heels are going to be.”

It’s a process of discovery that, even in defeat, may already have begun.

For one thing, UNC learned that as important as star running back Giovani Bernard might be to its success, its offense can still function well enough to win without him.

With Bernard sidelined because of a sore left knee Fedora said “didn’t feel right” during pregame warmups, backups A.J. Blue and Romar Morris combined to rush for 176 yards while each averaging more than five yards per carry.

Quarterback Bryn Renner also had a passable game, with the exception of one massive hit that nearly knocked him out of action in the second quarter and a costly fumble on the following possession that resulted in a Wake touchdown. He was 23 of 39 for 271 yards and a touchdown.

Wake's Merrill Noel breaks up a pass intended for UNC's Erik Highsmith in the red zone

But it was his inability to get his team into the end zone on a pair of second-half possessions inside the Deacons’ 20 that ended up costing UNC the game.

The first of those missed opportunities, set up by a Tim Scott interception, was sidetracked by a holding penalty. The second stalled because of two overthrown passes by Renner. Although each drive resulted in short field goals, allowing Wilmington’s Casey Barth to break his brother Connor’s school career record of 54, the lack of execution ended up being the chock that left the door open for Wake’s winning rally.

“Anytime you lose you can go back to any play or any misread by me or anyone else and really pinpoint that,” Renner said. “But the fact is we just didn’t make enough plays to win tonight.”

In retrospect, that 62-0 win last week may have been the worst thing that could have happened to the young Tar Heels. Although offensive guard Jonathan Cooper said he and his teammates came into Saturday’s game “with our minds right,” they may have gotten caught believing they were really as good as the looked against Elon.

“This is a reminder that we have to stay focused, lock in on the task at hand and hold each other accountable,” the senior from Hoggard High said. “We can’t shoot ourselves in the foot. Today Wake Forest was a better team than we were.”

That shouldn’t come as a major surprise, given the circumstances. This marks the third straight year Wake has gotten the best of a neighboring rival at home in the second game of the season after looking less-than-impressive against a lesser opponent in its opener.

As was the case with Duke in 2010 and N.C. State last week, the Tar Heels got their eyes opened courtesy of the Deacons on Saturday. Now it’s up to them to figure out how to use the lessons they learned.

First, as an N.C.State fan, let me thank the Deacs and the Heels for providing an entertaining, enjoyable, spirited game for watching. Against UConn, the Pack was miserable while winning, and I don’t see State getting better anytime soon.

Fedora has definitely picked up the pace at UNC. To me, their team has an “SEC” look. I think that can help the ACC as a whole.

From one Robert to another, I appreciate an intelligent fan making a comment like this. Usually people only spit hate or make fun of a team who loses.

Now, as a UNC fan, I have to agree with you on everything you said. While disappointed, the loss was not unexpected. It is always interesting to see people get the bandwagon all packed up and ready to roll when a team has one good showing. This is not a young team, but it is going to take some getting used to Fedora’s system. Maybe, just maybe, they will have it by the end of the season.

As far as NC State, I just don’t think that O’Brien is the coach for this team. I’m not sure if he can recruit against other ACC schools like UNC, Miami, VT, or Boston College. I have to think if this season goes the way it looks like it might, his days may be numbered.